McMillen presented with Honorary State FFA Degree
West Holmes buildings and trades teacher Dave McMillen was recently awarded the Honorary State FFA Degree, the second-highest honorary degree presented by the Ohio FFA Association.
Better late than never.
West Holmes High School buildings and trades teacher Dave McMillen was never involved with Future Farmers of America when growing up.
However, having been bestowed with an Honorary State FFA Degree at the annual Ohio State FFA Convention at the Ohio State Fairgrounds May 4-5, McMillen has become an honorary member of a group he truly admires.
“I am humbled and honored to receive such an incredible honor,” McMillen said.
In order to be in the running for the award, a person must be nominated by the FFA students, who must create a proposal, apply to the state and vote.
The Honorary State FFA Degree is the second-highest honorary degree and is presented by the Ohio FFA Association at the annual State FFA Convention.
Criteria for the nomination includes individuals nominated who have made a state impact. Individuals must have provided exceptional service to their respective agriculture and/or to the agricultural education and FFA program. Individuals nominated from a chapter must have the approval of the State FFA advisor.
In attending his first-ever state convention to receive the honor, McMillen said he was blown away with the magnitude and accomplishments put forth by the state’s FFA chapters and individuals.
“All those kids, all that energy, and to get to go up on the big stage was simply amazing,” McMillen said. “I guess now I am an official member of the FFA and couldn’t be prouder to be associated with such an incredible organization.”
He said making the trip to the state convention was worthwhile because it gave him even greater insight into the many things the FFA is promoting within its young adults.
“When you think about our FFA group here and FFA groups across the state, the one thing that stands out is that they are in pursuit of excellence,” McMillen said. “What those kids are doing down there — working in agriculture, and creating their own businesses, and the knowledge they bring back here — is incredible. What (advisor) Jaime Chenevey is doing — holding them accountable to all of their books and records, promoting hard work and investing in each other — it’s all about production and learning great skills they can apply to the future. It’s a great education in the agricultural community.”
McMillen said he was very surprised to learn he had not only been nominated for the honor but would receive one.
McMillen recently worked with West Holmes FFA members Alex Pringle, Ian Barr and Quentin Vehrs, who participated in the state ag mechanical engineering contest.
The group built a planning shelf and utilized metal working and welding to design a shelf for competition.
Utilizing the drafting and building skills of McMillen helped the members gain valuable insight into the building and design process and earned the group a top 10 placement at state.
McMillen said his building and trades class and the WHHS FFA chapter work closely on many projects at school because they work in the same realm.
“I’m a big fan of our FFA,” McMillen said. “I always have been. They have an amazing program and do incredible work.”